- Arizona Republicans blocked efforts by Democrats in the state Legislature to introduce bills that would repeal the state’s 1864 abortion law
- The state Supreme Court’s decision paved the way for one of the strictest abortion laws in the US, with no exceptions for rape or incest
- Trump said Arizona ruling ‘went too far’ but called it a ‘states issue’
Arizona’s legislature descended into chaos as Democrats shouted “shame” and accused Republicans of having “blood on their hands” after GOP lawmakers blocked efforts to roll back the state’s 1864 law banning abortion.
Republicans in both chambers on Wednesday rejected efforts by Democrats in both chambers to introduce bills to repeal the 160-year-old Civil War law that bans abortion without exceptions for rape and incest.
Democratic lawmakers could be heard shouting to their Republican colleagues to “protect reproductive freedom” and “save women’s lives” as Republicans began walking away.
One lawmaker shouted that they were “turning their backs” on the people of Arizona.
Another senator could be heard saying, “So the message to Arizona is that we are so pro-life in this chamber that we are going to kill you?”
The effort came a day after the Arizona Supreme Court announced a surprise decision that Arizona could uphold an 1864 law that effectively bans abortion in the state in all cases except to save the life of the mother.
Both chambers of the Arizona state legislature are controlled by Republicans.
Arizona State Representative Stephanie Stahl Hamilton spoke on the floor of the Capitol on April 10. She introduced HB2677, which would repeal the state’s 1864 abortion law
Protesters in Tucson, Arizona, after the Arizona Supreme Court revives an 1864 law banning abortion without exceptions for rape or incest
In the House of Representatives, Republicans voted for a recess without passing the bill to repeal the 1864 law.
House Democrats condemned Republicans who expressed support for repealing the territorial ban, saying they “got out” and voted for a delay instead.
“The world is watching us, and they say our legislature would rather enforce a cruel law that deprives anyone of control over their bodies than establish compassion,” said Democratic Rep. Stephanie Stahl Hamilton.
The state Supreme Court’s decision on Tuesday paves the way for Arizona to have one of the strictest abortion laws in the country since Roe v Wade was overturned and the issue was sent back to the states in 2022.
The ruling could have a huge impact on women’s health care across the state and would send political shockwaves across the country, with President Biden and Democrats rejecting the decision, while some Republicans also argued it went too far.
Trump said Wednesday in Atlanta that Arizona went too far, claiming it would be “corrected” just hours before state Republicans blocked efforts to repeal the 1864 law.
Former President Donald Trump was asked by reporters during a visit to Atlanta on Wednesday whether Arizona had gone “too far” earlier in the day.
“Yes, they did, and it will be corrected,” Trump said. “As you know, it’s all about states’ rights. That will be corrected.’
He claimed that it would be brought back to normal very soon.
Trump also said he thinks Florida will change after the Supreme Court cleared the way for a six-week ban last week, but Trump said, “It’s all about the will of the people.”
On Monday, Trump released a video statement saying he believes abortion is a state issue and touting the overturning of Roe v Wade.
Democrats vilified him after the Arizona Supreme Court revived the 1864 ban, declaring this the meaning of abortion as a ‘state’ issue.”
Arizona’s Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs speaks to reporters at the Capitol in Phoenix on April 9, following the state Supreme Court’s decision. She called the ruling “unconscionable.” She called on the state legislature to immediately repeal the 1864 law and vowed the fight is not over
After the Arizona ruling was handed down, the state’s Democratic governor, Katie Hobbs, called on the Legislature to immediately repeal the ban.
“The devastating impact this abortion ban will have on women’s health is simply unconscionable,” she said in a post.
Hobbs issued a statement in response to Republicans in the House of Representatives blocking a repeal of the law.
“The extremist Republican majority had an opportunity to do right by its constituents, and it failed,” she said.
“As time and time again, radical lawmakers have protected a total Civil War-era abortion ban that imprisons doctors, deprives women of our bodily autonomy and endangers our lives,” she added.
The governor emphasized that she remains committed to repealing the ban.
Vice President Kamala Harris is also heading to Tucson on Friday.
She has taken the lead within the Biden administration to advocate for access to abortion after the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision ended the federal right to abortion and returned the issue to the states.